張先生因妻子沒有確認美食餐廳的地點而責怪她。他們全家原本打算在登機返國之前，享用一頓豐盛的大餐，為此趟日本之旅畫下完美的句點。但他們因找不到餐廳而耽擱了時間，只好放棄用餐的計畫。張先生十分沮喪，因此批評他妻子的行程規劃糟透了。

但過後，張先生卻對自己口出惡言而感到後悔。他不應對妻子疾言厲色，因為自己也沒有先確認餐廳的地點，更沒有感謝妻子完美地規劃了前七天的行程。

其實在生氣時，我們每個人都可能像張先生一樣，總是按捺不住滿腔怒火而口無遮攔。我們多麼需要像詩人一樣地禱告：「耶和華啊，求祢禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。」（詩篇141篇3節）

我們該怎麼做呢？有個小祕訣：先思考，再開口。你要說的是不是能造就人的好話，又滿有恩慈呢？（參閱以弗所書4章29-32節）

若要謹守自己的言語，生氣時就必須先閉口不言，並求主幫助我們用合宜的語氣，說該說的話，或乾脆什麼也別說。學習制伏自己的口舌是一生的功課，然而感謝上帝，因為我們立志和行事都是上帝在我們心中作工，為要成就祂美好的旨意（腓立比書2章13節）。

Cheung was upset with his wife for failing to check the directions to the famous restaurant where they hoped to dine. The family had planned to round out their holiday in Japan with a scrumptious meal before catching the flight home. Now they were running late and would have to miss that meal. Frustrated, Cheung criticized his wife for her poor planning.

Later Cheung regretted his words. He had been too harsh, plus he realized that he could have checked the directions himself and he had failed to thank his wife for the other seven days of great planning.

Many of us may identify with Cheung. We are tempted to blow up when angry and to let words fly without control. Oh, how we need to pray as the psalmist did: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

But how can we do that? Here’s a helpful tip: Think before you speak. Are your words good and helpful, gracious and kind? (See Eph. 4:29–32.)

Setting a guard over our mouth requires that we keep our mouth shut when we’re irritated and that we seek the Lord’s help to say the right words with the right tone or, perhaps, not speak at all. When it comes to controlling our speech, it’s a lifelong work. Thankfully, God is working in us, giving us “the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Phil. 2:13 nlt).